Pump or valve dispensing head

ABSTRACT

A dispenser head ( 1 ) designed to be mounted on the plunger stem of a dispenser, such as a pump or a valve, for dispensing a fluid substance, the dispenser head ( 1 ) includes a body ( 2 ) provided with a recess ( 21 ) serving to receive the plunger stem, and with at least one duct ( 22 ) causing the recess ( 21 ) to communicate with a dispenser orifice ( 45; 35 ), the dispenser head being characterized in that the body ( 2 ) is received securely in an over-cap ( 3 ) which covers it while leaving the recess ( 21 ) unobstructed.

The present invention relates to a dispenser head designed to be mountedon the plunger stem of a dispenser device, such as a pump or a valve,for dispensing a fluid substance. The dispenser head serves as anactuating member on which action is taken by means of a finger for thepurpose of actuating the pump or the valve. The fluid substance isdelivered from the pump or from the valve through the plunger stem onwhich the spray head is mounted. In order to enable the fluid to bedispensed, the dispenser head is provided with a dispensing orificewhich communicates with the plunger stem via an outlet duct. When aliquid such as a perfume is to be dispensed, the dispenser head canincorporate a spray jet-forming insert making it possible to spray theliquid.

A conventional spray head is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated by theoverall numerical reference 10. The head 10 comprises a body 2 which iscylindrical in shape. At its top end, the body 2 forms a wall 27 againstwhich a finger is pressed to actuate the pump or the valve. In addition,the body 2 defines a peripheral skirt 28 which extends downwards fromsaid wall 27 over a certain height. The height of the peripheral skirt28 is determined in part by the height of the stroke of the plunger stemof the pump or valve on which the head is mounted. For reasons ofaesthetic appearance, the skirt 28 must extend to the level of thefixing ring for fixing the pump or the valve to the container, in orderto hide the plunger stem. Thus, when the pump or valve is actuated, theperipheral skirt 28 of the dispenser head 10 engages above the fixingring. The height of the peripheral ring 28 is thus directly dependent onthe type of pump or valve on which the spray head 10 is mounted.

In addition, the body 2 is provided with a recess 21 serving to receivethe top end of the plunger stem. The recess 21 communicates with one ormore outlet ducts 22. The one or more ducts 22 open out in an annularspace formed around a core 23 that is formed integrally in the body 2.The recess thus formed by the annular space serves to receive a sprayjet-forming insert 4 which is engaged by force in said annular space.Conventionally, the insert 4 is provided with a dispensing orifice, andwhen a fluid substance such as perfume is to be dispensed, the insert 4can further be provided with spray means such as a swirl chamberconnected via tangential swirl channels connecting to the duct 22.

In short, a conventional dispenser head is provided with a recess forreceiving the plunger stem, with an outlet orifice connecting to saidrecess, with a push surface against which a finger is pressed, and witha peripheral skirt for masking the plunger stem.

That type of dispenser head is, in general, made of molded plastic. Themold necessary for manufacturing such a dispenser head essentiallycomprises three parts, namely a bottom core which defines the inside ofthe dispenser head and in particular the recess for receiving theplunger stem, a top shell which defines the outside portion of the head,and in particular the push surface and the outside wall of theperipheral skirt, and a pin that can be inserted through the top shellto define the annular space for receiving the insert and the duct 22that causes the recess to communicate with the insert. The pin isinserted horizontally through the top shell while the join plane of themold is defined at the bottom end of the peripheral skirt 28. It canthus be understood that it is not possible to vary the height of theperipheral skirt 28 since the distance between the join plane and thepin forming the annular space is fixed. Therefore, it is necessary touse a plurality of molds to manufacture dispenser heads havingperipheral skirts of different heights for hiding the plunger stem,which gives rise to much higher investment cost.

An object of the present invention is to mitigate that problem of theprior art by defining a dispenser head in which the height of theperipheral skirt can be varied, without using a different mold forforming the body of the head.

In addition, since the dispenser head is made of a plastics material,shrinkage or sinking occurs locally, thereby locally affecting thevisible surfaces of the head because of the unequal thicknesses in theplastics part. In particular, sink marks are often visible at the pushtop face of the head in the zone corresponding to the recess and to theduct. Such marks adversely affects the aesthetic appearance of thedispenser head. Another object of the present invention is thus tomitigate the visible effects of such sinking.

In addition, it is sometimes a requirement for the color of thedispenser head to match the color of fixing ring or of the container. Inwhich case, it is necessary to color to the plastics material of whichthe dispenser head is made. Since the colorants used for tinting theplastics material are costly products, the cost of a colored dispenserhead is also high. An object of the present invention is also to make itpossible for colored dispenser heads to be made at lower cost.

To this end, the present invention provides a dispenser head designed tobe mounted on the plunger stem of a dispenser device, such as a pump ora valve, for dispensing a fluid substance, said spray head comprising abody provided with a recess serving to receive the plunger stem, andwith at least one duct causing said recess to communicate with adispenser orifice, the body being received securely in an over-cap whichcovers it while leaving the recess unobstructed. The over-cap may bemade of metal, but it is preferably made of a plastics material, and itsolves all of the problems of the prior art related to the height of theperipheral skirt, to shrinkage, and to the color of the head. As regardsthe height of the peripheral skirt, it is easier and less costly to varythe height of the over-cap than to vary the height of the body of thehead because the mold necessary to make the over-cap is much simpler.The body of the head thus becomes a standard element for a given headdiameter, independently of the height of the head. A single body moldsuffices for a head of a given diameter.

As regards shrinkage, it does not take place in an over-cap made of aplastics material given that the thickness of the wall thereof isuniform.

Finally, as regards the color of the head, given that the quantity ofplastic necessary for molding the over-cap is less than the quantitynecessary for molding a conventional body, a smaller quantity ofcolorant is necessary.

The Document FR-1 482 900 admittedly describes a pusher provided with acover that covers internal members of the pusher defining a valvemember. The cover is thus mounted to slide axially on the cap. Theelement making it possible to hold the cover on the cap is the insertwhich projects from the skirt of the cover. For this purpose, given thatthe cover is mounted to move relative to the insert, the opening throughwhich the insert projects is overdimensioned to enable the cover toslide. In that plunger, the cover serves merely as an actuating wall foractuating the valve member so as to hold it closed until the pressure isreleased. The sliding characteristic is thus essential to the operationof that pusher.

Although that document describes a cover, it is not used for the samepurposes, and, in addition, it is slidably mounted.

Depending on the embodiment, the dispensing orifice is formed by a sprayjet-forming insert mounted on the body, the over-cap being provided withan opening for enabling the insert to pass through on mounting it on thebody. In a variant, the dispensing orifice is formed in the over-cap.

In both cases, the head may include spray means in the form of a swirlchamber centered on the dispensing orifice and fed via at least twotangential swirl channels connecting to said at least one duct. In whichcase, the swirl chamber and the channels may be formed in the insert. Ina variant, the swirl chamber and the channels may be formed in the body.

When the dispensing orifice is formed in the over-cap, and the swirlchamber and the swirl channels are formed in the body, it is notnecessary to use a separate insert mounted on the body. A saving of onepart and therefore of one corresponding mold is thus achieved. Theover-cap then performs an additional function, namely the function ofdispensing orifice.

In another embodiment, the body and the over-cap are provided withangular positioning means for determining the angular positioning of theover-cap relative to the body while they are being assembled, so thatthe spray orifice is centered on assembly relative to the swirl chamber.Advantageously, the inside of the over-cap forms an angular positioningand penetrating spike co-operating with a setback of corresponding shapeprovided in the body. The angular position of the over-cap on the bodyis thus set automatically on assembly.

The invention is described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying drawings giving two embodiments of the present invention byway of non-limiting example.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of a prior art dispenser head;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view through a dispenser head in a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the insert used in the dispenser headof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inside of the insert of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a dispenser head in a secondembodiment of the present invention

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the portion of the body of the dispenser headthat forms the spray means; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the inside of the over-cap at the dispensingorifice.

In a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the dispenser head 1 of thepresent invention comprises three component parts, namely a body 2, anover-cap 3, and an insert 4. These three elements are preferably made ofa molded plastics material, although the over-cap 3 may also be made ofmetal. For example, the body 2 may be made of molded polypropylene, andthe over-cap 3 and the insert may be made of a harder plastic, e.g. anacetal.

With reference more precisely to FIG. 2, the body 2 is of a conventionaldesign quite similar to the design of the prior art spray head shown inFIG. 1. Therefore, the body 2 forms an axial central recess 21 forreceiving the top end of the plunger stem of the pump or of the valve onwhich the head 1 is mounted. The recess 21 communicates via an outletchannel 22 with an annular space 224 defined around a core 23 having anannular end surface 24 that is accurately plane. As shown in FIG. 2, thespace 224 serves to receive a spray jet-forming insert 4 bysnap-fastening. The insert is described in detail below with referenceto FIG. 3. In addition, the body 2 forms an annular top surface 27 and aperipheral flange 28 which extends downwards over the entire peripheryof the body 2. At the annular recess 224 for receiving the insert 4, theannular flange 28 is provided with a hole. The essential difference withthe body of a conventional dispenser head lies in the length of theperipheral skirt which, in this example, is reduced to a peripheralflange 28.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show, on a larger scale, the insert 4 used in the sprayhead 1 shown in FIG. 2. The insert 4 is a conventional insert in theform of a small cup whose end wall 41 is provided with a dispensingorifice 45. This dispensing orifice 45 communicates with a setback 47which co-operates with the flat annular end surface 24 of the core 23 toform a swirl chamber 47. The end wall 41 is further provided with threeother setbacks 46 as shown in FIG. 4, which setbacks cause the swirlchamber 47 to communicate with the inside periphery of the insert 4.These setbacks 46 co-operate with the plane annular surface 24 of thecore 23 to form three swirl channels 46 that connect to the swirlchamber 47 tangentially so as to cause the fluid substance to flow in aswirling motion in the chamber 47. In order to cause the annular space224 to communicate with the swirl channels 46, the inside cylindricalwall 42 of the insert 4 is provided with grooves 44. Thus, the fluidsubstance delivered through the plunger stem can flow through the duct22 into the annular space 224, and through the grooves 44 and the swirlchannels 46 to the swirl chamber 47 where it is finally dispensedthrough the dispensing orifice 45 towards the outside in the form of ajet of sprayed substance. Good isolation of the swirl channels 46 and ofthe swirl chamber 47 is possible by using plastics materials ofdifferent hardnesses: e.g. the insert may be made of acetal, while thebody 2 is made of polypropylene, so that the insert 4 deforms the planeend surface 24 of the core 23 slightly, thereby providing goodleaktightness. For fixing the insert 4 to the core 23, the cylindricalwall 42 of the insert is provided with snap-fastening catches 43 whichco-operate with the body 2 by material interference because of thedifference in hardness of the plastics used to make them. The insert isthus put in place stably and securely on the body.

In the invention, the body 2 is covered with the over-cap 3 which coversthe top end surface 27 and the peripheral flange 28 while leaving therecess 21 unobstructed. It is preferable for the inside wall 3 of theover-cap 3 to match the shape of the body 2 at its peripheral flange 28and at its top surface 27 as can be seen in FIG. 2. It is thus importantfor the inside sides of the over-cap to correspond accurately to theoutside sides of the body 2. It is thus possible to engage the body 2under force into the over-cap without it being necessary to use othermeans for locking the body 2 inside the over-cap 3. The body 2 is thusreceived and held securely in the over-cap 3. As can be seen in FIG. 2,the over-cap is in the form of a single cylindrical cup with an end-walldefining the push top annular surface 31 against which action is takenby means of a finger, and a peripheral wall defining a peripheral skirt32 which performs the same function as the prior art peripheral skirtshown in FIG. 1. The over-cap 3 has a wall-thickness that is accuratelyuniform so that no shrinkage affects it. It may also be made using acolored plastics material.

In this embodiment, the peripheral skirt 32 of the over-cap 3 isprovided with an opening 33 serving to enable the insert 4 to be passedthrough on being mounted on the body 2. During the operation of mountingthis dispenser head, it is firstly necessary to engage the body 2 intothe over-cap 3, and then to put the insert 4 in place on the core 23 ofthe body 2. As a result, the over-cap must be provided with an openingenabling said insert 4 to pass through. It should be noted that thedispenser head of the invention may be mounted using a conventionalmachine once the body has been engaged in the over-cap.

It is easy to understand that it is easy to cause the height of thedispenser head 1 to vary by using an over-cap of different height. It isthus not necessary to modify the body 2 which in no way determines theheight of the head. As a result of its simplicity, the over-cap 3 iseasy to make at lower cost with different heights. In addition, sincethe body 2 is no longer a visible element, it is of little importancewhether it is affected by aesthetic defects such as sink marks.

Reference is made to FIGS. 5 to 7 to describe a particularlyadvantageous second embodiment. The advantage of this spray head lies inthe fact that it is made up of two elements only, namely the body 2 andthe over-cap 3. The function of the insert is performed in this exampleby the body 2 and by the over-cap 3 in association. As can be seen inFIG. 6, the swirl chamber 25 and the swirl channels 26 are formed in theend surface 24 of the core 23 formed by the body 2. The example shown isa particular embodiment implementing two swirl channels 26 connected torespective ones of two symmetrical side channels 22 which open out inthe recess 21. This configuration makes it possible for the swirlchannels 26 to be fed entirely symmetrically. Whereas conventionally thechamber 25 and the channels 26 are formed in the separate insert, inthis embodiment the chamber and the channels are formed directly in thebody 2. Symmetrically, the wall used to isolate the channels 26 fromeach other and to complete the chamber 25 is formed by the over-cap 3.As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, this closure wall must be provided witha dispensing orifice 35 which causes the swirl chamber 25 to communicatewith the outside. Advantageously, the over-cap 3 may form a directionalspray cone 36 downstream from the spray orifice 35.

It should also be noted that this embodiment makes it possible to reduceconsiderably the height of the insert, and therefore the total height ofthe head.

In this embodiment, it is essential for the dispensing hold 35 to beaccurately centered relative to the swirl chamber 25. For this purpose,angular positioning means are provided, making it possible to determineaccurately the angular positioning of the over-cap 3 relative to thebody 2. In an embodiment, the angular positioning means are in the formof an angular positioning and penetrating spike 37 which co-operateswith a setback 29 of corresponding shape provided in the body 2. Asshown in FIGS. 5 and 7, this spike may be provided at the spray orifice35. This spike 37 is in the form of an extra-thickness of wall providedat the peripheral skirt 32. This spike 37 defines a downward-facing tipwhich serves to co-operate with the setback 29 formed in the body 2 andwhich ha a corresponding shape. As shown in FIG. 6, the core 23 with itsend surface 24 in which the chamber 25 and the channels 26 are formed issituated at said setback 29. By means of the co-operation between thespike 37 and the setback 29, accurate angular positioning is thusguaranteed, and therefore the dispensing orifice is centered 35 relativeto the swirl chamber 25.

Although not shown and more complicated to achieve, it is also possibleto form the swirl chamber and the swirl channels in the over-cap. Thebody then has a core whose end surface is accurately plane, as in thefirst embodiment.

By means of the over-cap, it is possible to cause the height of thespray head to vary at lower cost, and to improve the aestheticappearance of the head while eliminating any problems related toshrinkage and while reducing the costs related to coloring the plastic.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser head (1) designed to be mounted on aplunger stem of a dispenser device for dispensing a fluid substance,said dispenser head (1) comprising a body (2) having a peripheralflange, the body provided with a recess (21) serving to receive theplunger stem, and with at least one duct (22) causing said recess (21)to communicate with a dispenser orifice (45; 35), said dispenser headbeing characterized in that the body (2) is received in an over-cap (3)which covers the body while leaving the recess (21) unobstructed; andwherein the over-cap has a peripheral skirt that extends axially beyondthe peripheral flange of the body.
 2. A spray head according to claim 1,in which the over-cap (3) is made of metal.
 3. A spray head according toclaim 1, in which the over-cap (3) is made of plastic.
 4. A spray headaccording to claim 1, in which the dispensing orifice (45) is formed bya spray jet-forming insert (4) mounted on the body (2), said over-cap(3) being provided with an opening (33) for enabling the insert (4) topass through on mounting it on the body (2).
 5. A spray head accordingclaim 1, in which said dispensing orifice (35) is formed in the over-cap(3).
 6. A spray head according to claim 1, including spray means (46,47; 25, 26) in the form of a swirl chamber (47; 25) centered on thedispensing orifice (45; 35) and fed via at least two tangential swirlchannels (46; 26) connecting to said at least one duct (22).
 7. A sprayhead according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing orifice is formed byan insert and a swirl chamber having swirl channels, and in which theswirl chamber (47) and the channels (46) are formed in the insert (4).8. A spray head according to claim 1, in which the swirl chamber (25)and the channels (26) are formed in the body (2).
 9. A dispenser headdesigned to be mounted on a plunger stem of a dispenser device fordispensing a fluid substance, said dispenser head comprising a bodyprovided with a recess serving to receive the plunger stem, and with atleast one duct causing said recess to communicate with a dispenserorifice, said dispenser head being characterized in that the body isaxially engaged under force into and received securely in an over-capwhich covers it while leaving the recess unobstructed; and in which thebody (2) and the over-cap (3) are provided with angular positioningmeans (29, 37) for determining the angular positioning of the over-cap(3) relative to the body (2) while they are being assembled.
 10. A sprayhead according to claim 9, in which the inside of the over-cap (3) formsan angular positioning and penetrating spike (37) co-operating with asetback (29) of corresponding shape provided in the body (2).
 11. Adispenser head comprising a body forming a peripheral flange and atleast one outlet duct exiting on the exterior of said flange,characterized in that the peripheral flange is surrounded by an over-capmatching the shape of the peripheral flange, the over-cap and the flangeforming together spraying means in the form of a swirl chamber centeredon a dispensing orifice and fed through at least two tangential swirlchannels connecting to said at least one duct; and wherein the over-caphas a peripheral skirt that extends axially beyond the peripheral flangeof the body.
 12. A dispenser head according to claim 11, wherein saidflange forms said two swirl channels and said swirl chamber, theover-cap completing and isolating the swirl channels and completing theswirl chamber, the over-cap forming said dispensing orifice centered onthe swirl chamber.
 13. A dispenser head according to claim 11, whereinsaid the over-cap is made of metal.
 14. A dispenser head according toclaim 11, wherein said the over-cap is made of plastic.
 15. A dispenserhead comprising a body forming a peripheral flange and at least oneoutlet duct exiting on the exterior of said flange, characterized inthat the peripheral flange is axially engaged under force into andsurrounded by an over-cap matching the shape of the peripheral flange,the over-cap and the flange forming together spraying means in the formof a swirl chamber centered on a dispensing orifice and fed through atleast two tangential swirl channels connecting to said at least oneduct; and wherein said the body and the over-cap are provided withangular positioning means for determining the angular positioning of theover-cap relative to the body while they are being assembled.
 16. Adispenser head according to claim 15, the inside of the over-cap formsangular positioning and penetrating spike co-operating with a setback ofcorresponding shape provided in the body.
 17. A spray head according toclaim 1, in which the over-cap is in the form of a cylindrical cup withan end-wall defining a push top annular surface and a peripheral walldefining a peripheral skirt.
 18. A dispenser head according to claim 11,in which the over-cap is in the form of a cylindrical cup with anend-wall defining a push top annular surface and a peripheral walldefining a peripheral skirt.
 19. The dispenser head according to claim1, wherein the dispensing device is a pump or a valve.
 20. A dispenserhead mounted on a plunger stem of a dispenser device for dispensing afluid substance, the dispenser head comprising: a body comprising arecess in which a plunger stem is received, the body further comprisinga top, a peripheral flange, and at least one duct that communicates therecess with a dispenser orifice; and an over-cap in the form of a cupdefined by a bottom and a peripheral skirt; wherein the body is axiallyengaged within the over-cap and forms a tight fit between the peripheralflange of the body and the peripheral skirt of the over-cap; and whereinan inside surface of the over-cap bottom abuts an inside surface of thetop of the body, and wherein the peripheral skirt of the over-capextends axially beyond the peripheral flange of the body.
 21. Adispenser head designed to be mounted on a plunger stem of a dispenserdevice for dispensing a fluid substance, said dispenser head comprisinga body provided with a recess serving to receive the plunger stem, andwith at least one duct causing said recess to communicate with adispenser orifice, said dispenser head being characterized in that thebody is received securely in an over-cap which covers it while leavingthe recess unobstructed, and in that the body and the over-cap areprovided with angular positioning means for determining the angularpositioning of the over-cap relative to the body while they are beingassembled.
 22. A dispenser head comprising a body forming a peripheralflange and at least one outlet duct exiting on the exterior of saidflange, characterized in that the peripheral flange is surrounded by anover-cap matching the shape of the peripheral flange, the over-cap andthe flange forming together spraying means in the form of a swirlchamber centered on dispensing orifice and fed through at least twotangential swirl channels connecting to said at least one duct, and inthat the body and the over-cap are provided with angular positioningmeans for determining the angular positioning of the over-cap relativeto the body while they are being assembled.
 23. The dispenser headaccording to claim 1, wherein the body is axially engaged under forceinto and received securely in an over-cap.
 24. The dispenser headaccording to claim 11, wherein the peripheral flange is axially engagedunder force into and surrounded by the over-cap.
 25. The dispenser headaccording to claim 1, wherein the over-cap is in the form of a cup. 26.The dispenser head according to claim 11, wherein the over-cap is in theform of a cup.
 27. A dispenser head configured to be mounted on aplunger stem of a dispenser device for dispensing a fluid substance, thedispenser head comprising a body provided with a recess configured toreceive the plunger stem, and with at least one duct causing the recessto communicate with a dispenser orifice; wherein the body is axiallyengaged under force into and received securely in an over-cap thatcovers the body while leaving the recess unobstructed; wherein the bodyhas an outer wall surface and the over-cap has an interior wall surface;and wherein the body is fit within the over-cap by relatively slidingthe interior wall surface on the outer wall surface along an axis of thebody during the axial engagement of the body in the over-cap.
 28. Adispenser head comprising a body forming a peripheral flange with anouter wall surface and at least one outlet duct exiting on the exteriorof said flange, characterized in that the peripheral flange issurrounded by an over-cap matching the shape of the peripheral flange,the over-cap and the flange forming together spraying means in the formof a swirl chamber centered on a dispensing orifice and fed through atleast two tangential swirl channels connecting to said at least oneduct; wherein the over-cap has an interior wall surface; and wherein thebody is fit within the over-cap by relatively sliding the interior wallsurface on the outer wall surface along an axis of the body during theaxial engagement of the body in the over-cap.
 29. A dispenser headmounted on a plunger stem of a dispenser device for dispensing a fluidsubstance, the dispenser head comprising: a body comprising a recess inwhich a plunger stem is received, the body further comprising a top, anouter surface, and at least one duct that communicates the recess with adispenser orifice; and an over-cap in the form of a cup defined by abottom and a peripheral skirt; wherein the body is tightly fit withinthe over-cap by sliding the outer surface of the body relative to theover-cap along an actuating axis of the body until an inside surface ofthe over-cap bottom abuts an inside surface of the top of the body.